The Osceola times., 1887-09-17
! WOMAN's DEPARTMENT.
pupLM FouLkE's spEsoH.


Non. wriiam Dudley Fouike Makes
RlnsInx speech In Favor Of Woman Suf-
fraee.
Hon. William Dudley Foulke, at the
recent New England Woman Suffrage
Convention in Newport, X l., said:
Only the day before yesterday was
talking with an eminent poliiicaiecon-..
omist who was opposed to granting
suffrage TO women. He said: what
do yop. .plopose.. TO gain hy yitg WI.
politics become any cleaner
thought tlIatithcy wonld become much
cleaner, but that this was not the main
reason fosssufflage. 1.-The reason that
men desire to exercise it'll answered,
sis that they may protect in their own
way their own rights and interests.
Suppose the question should be put to
vote, whether a loan ora gift should
be made by a township in aid of new
railroai--a woman possibly may be
the owner of one-hah the property in
the township, yet she has no voice in
determining whether she shall bo taxed
to build the road; she has no means ot
protecting her own, while every man.
whether he have property or got, can
vote 10 cast thi, burden upon her. IS
that fair?" The gentleman admitted
that it was not. ---.-'----------
"ln such case, said he, "she ought
undoubtedly to have the right to vote
to protect her property; but that is an
exceptional case. .'No. /" Ianswcred,
THAT case is not The exception. but the
rule. No question can arise in legisla-
ton but one in which she has an inter
est similar in principle, if not degree.
Take woman who is without prop
srty, one who is rearing boys whom
she endeavors to train as upright men.
The question arises; Shall liquor be
sold in the town? | do not intend to
advocate the cause Of prohibition when
say that she has an interest in the
question quite distinct from that of the
saloon-keeper, and one which is at
least entitled to an eqnal voice. Or,
perhaps, she is a widow with young
and beautiful daughters, and her mar
row means and struggle for liveli'
hood prevented her from exercising at
all times that personal care which
might preserve them from the entice-
ments of a libertine. The question
arises; At what period In girls life
shall the law cease to interfere and de-
clare that act to be innocent, which, II
committed upon childhood. is a crimes
Has she no special interest in this
issue? Is her interest the same as that
of the other sex. Of whom very per-
ceptible part is composed Of the men
against whom moro stringent legisln-
ton is invokedp Look over the whole
field Of government, and woman has
her interest in every issue in just the
same way that man has, though that
interest is very often quite a different
one. There is neither justice MOI
reason in the organic law which give:
to him the political sovereignty which
1t denies to her." a--
And what a waste goes on 80 Ions
as VIC avail ourselves of only one-hal
of the vital force of mankind, in th,
development of the mighty organism
of this Republic! One-half Of its wis
dom, its virtue, its devotion. its en-
ibusiasm. mustlie helpless and inactive
and see the work wrought ont by othe
hands. This is crippled and deformct
humanity. All we ask is that mankinC
and womankind shall be equally anc
completely free TO grow and develol
together into that fuller and more
perfect stature which freedom onl,
can enable us to attain. = Woman'
Journal .a lH..9rh t rs